Folding clothes-retainer



B. U. ROACH.

FOLDING CLOTHES RETAINER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20. I918 1,314,608. Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

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FOLDING CLOTHES RETAINER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, I918. .3 1,314,608. Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

BURTUS UGINE ROACH, OF BRONSON', MICHIGAN.

FOLDING CLOTHES-RETAINER.

Application filed May 20, 1918.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BURTUS U. ROACI-I, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bronson, in the county of Branch and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Folding Clothes-Retainer, of which the .following is a specification.

The subject of the present invention is a folding clothes container in which clothes may be hung when not in use.

The main object of the invention is the provision of a clothes container which may be folded and carried from place to place, if desired.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of means for drawing the container to proper position for folding.

Another object of the invention is the pro vision of a hanger bar detach-ably mounted in the container.

The invention further contemplates gen erally improving the construction and en-,

hancing the utility of devices of this character.

\Vith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter de-. scribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a container constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof taken on the line 22 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 'L' 1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1 and showing the parts folded;

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of the device partly folded.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference 2- In carrying out the invention there are provided a top and bottom folding frame Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

Serial No. 235,587.

which are connected by a suitable flexible covering.

The upper frame is constructed of a front bar 1 and a rear bar 2, and the ends of these bars are offset inwardly and bifurcated to provide the lugs 1 and 2 respectively. Hinged side bars 3 have longitudinally extending terminal tongues 3 which are adapted to enter between the lugs of the bifurcated ends of the front and rear bars, respectively, and to be pivotally connected thereto by the pins 7.

The side bars 3 are divided transversely into two sections, one section terminating in a longitudinally extending tongue 9 which is adapted to enter between the prongs 10 of the bifurcated opposed end of the other section, the sections being pivotally connected by a pin 8.

The top frame is substantially rectangular, when in extended position, and is covered by flexible material 11 which is secured to the frame in any desired manner.

To provide a support from which clothing may be hung within the container and, at the same time, lock the upper frame in extended position so that it will not collapse, the front bar 1 is formed with. a notch or recess 4 which is partially closed by the under-lapping ends of buttons 5 which are pivotally mounted on the under sur face of the bar 1 at each side of the notch or recess 4 and which may be swung to underlap the recess, or to leave the recess open and free from obstruction.

The rearbar 2 is likewise provided with an aperture or notch which is closed at the under face of the bar by an underlying strip 6 which is secured to the bar in any suitable manner.

These notches or recesses are provided to receive the longitudinally extending terminal tongues 13 which are provided at each end of a bar 12. As will be understood, the strip 6 and the buttons 5 are adapted to detachably hold the bar 19. in place. The bar 12 is formed with a longitudinally extending T-shapcd groove which receives a T bar 14: with a close sliding fit. The flange of the T bar 14 depends below the bar 12 and is provided with spaced apertures 15 from which coat hangers or other suspending elements may be hung.

The bottom or lower frame is constructed of front and rear bars 18, which are similar to the front and rear bars of the upper frame except that they are not formed with notches, and they are connected by the hinged side bars 19 which are similar to the bars 3. This lower frame is covered on its under side with flexible material 20.

In order that the material 11, covering the upper frame, and the material 20 covering the lower frame may properly follow the frames as they are folded, binding strips 21 have their ends secured to opposed sections of the side bars 3 and 19, on each side of the hinges thereof, and these strips are secured, by stitching or otherwise, at their centers to the edges of the coverings 11 and 20.

The upper and lower frames are connected by a strip or sheet of material 22, the upper edge of which is stitched at the back and sides to the material 11, or it may be otherwise suitably secured. The lower edge of this sheet 22 is similarly fastened to the lower frame.

The longitudinal edges of the strip 22 meet centrally of the front and are secured together by means of buckles 24. The upper and lower edges of these front portions are provided with button holes or slits which receive the heads of fasteners'23, which fasteners are secured in the front bars of the upper and lower frames.

To provide means for hanging the container, chains 16, or similar elements, are secured adjacent the corners of the upper frame and converge upwardly therefrom to a hanging ring 17, to which their other ends are secured.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and sought by Letters Patent, is

1. In a folding clothes retainer, an upper frame and a lower frame, a sheet of flexible material connecting the upper and lower frames, the lower frame including side and end bars pivoted intermediate their lengths, and having connection with each other at the ends thereof, one of said bars having a notch substantially centrally thereof, the 0pposite bar having a recess formed therein, and rigid means positioned in the notch and recess, for holding the bars in spaced relation with each other.

2. In a folding clothes retainer, an upper frame including side and end bars pivoted intermediate their lengths, means for pivotally connecting the ends of the side and end bars, one of said bars having a notched portion, the opposite bar having a recess formed therein, a bar having its ends positioned in the notch and recess, said bar having a longitudinally extending T-shaped groove, and a T bar cooperating with the T-shaped groove, said bar having a plurality of openings to receive hangers.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afliXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

BURTUS UGINE ROACH.

Witnesses:

FRANK HONEYWELL, R. G. CoRsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

